So who is the greatest Scottish coach? Well most pundits would probably say that young man on the right, Alex Ferguson, who as manager of Aberdeen broke the Old Firm monopoly on Scottish football. Under Ferguson's guidance, the club won three league championships, one Drybrough Cup, four Scottish Cups, the European Cup Winner's Cup, the European Super Cup and a League Cup – all in the space of seven years. Oh he also went on to do some good things at Manchester United, but I'd be here all day chronicling that! Well done Alex - we're all proud of you.
But what about that other chap? Well, he gets my vote, but of course I'm biased. As a Celtic fan I have to say the greatest Scottish coach is the legendary Jock Stein. In his thirteen year reign as manager of the Hoops, the club won countless amount of domestic silverware, and their first domestic treble. But it was guiding the side to winning the European Cup in 1967, the first British club to do so, that sets him apart. It was an incredible achievement for a Scottish club, and gave Stein an enviable place in History.
But in fiction he has a rival! Jim Murdoch is his name - the man who coached Lewis Macleod to victory at Wimbledon. Jim is more than a coach though, he is the surrogate father who takes over from Calum Macleod after his death. I didn't base Jim on either of the gentlemen above, but his grizzly nature and steely determination gives some elements in common. We first hear of him in the prologue - the man who is coming to assess Lewis's talent. Then finally get to met him in Sydney after the party Lewis attends. The relationship is strained - Lewis's drinking and off court antics the main cause of tension between the two. And there will be other strains as the first book develops, mainly with Jim having to come to terms with Lewis's sexuality, something he has avoided but has to face. I'll return to Jim - not the greatest, but still a great coach. But for the time being, here's a snippet from his first appearance in the book...
As Lewis turned towards his bedroom, he paused and looked back at his coach, seeing him properly for the first time in a while. It was a sobering image - mortality sat there in front of him, flaunting the years which had managed to catch up with Jim Murdoch all too quickly of late. His hair was
thinning at an alarming rate, and what was left had now turned to grey. Too many worries sat on his face, clinging on to the bags under his eyes. That was Father Time for you - there could be no escape. Lewis absorbed it for a while before speaking, attempting to blank out the inevitability of it all. “Thanks, Jim… for sticking by me. I appreciate it, mate. I really do. I know I’ve been a pain in
the arse lately.”
Jim gave a cursory nod of acknowledgement then followed it up with words that might have been best left unsaid, but he’d never been soft when it came to his charge – he refused to allow sentiment to interfere with the job. “That’s what you pay me for, Lewis, now on you go. You need some sleep if you’re going to hit the court in the morning.”
Lewis looked at him again, and wished that Jim could find it in himself to show that he actually cared, that it wasn’t just a job. For the umpteenth time he wondered what Jim Murdoch really thought of him. He knew once, but things had changed so much since the premature success and the spoiler that Lewis had thrown in at the end. There was a distance now between them that
hadn’t existed before that day.
“It’s not been easy for me of late, Jim. And I know it’ll be a bumpy ride ahead. I need you more than ever as a coach… but I need a friend as well… I hope you’ll still be there for me… like you always have been. We both know that I’d have been dead in the water twice over if it hadn’t been for you.
Good night, Jim.”
He waited a moment before taking his leave, but there were no words of reassurance, only another cut.
“Oh Lewis... your management agency called. Apparently the clothing sponsor is none too happy about the image you’re projecting. Any more bad publicity and they’re threatening to terminate the contract. It would appear they have grounds. Good night, Lewis.” Then he turned his attention back to the book without reading another word. ‘Softly softly’ wasn’t Jim’s way –even when it was desperately needed.
But what about that other chap? Well, he gets my vote, but of course I'm biased. As a Celtic fan I have to say the greatest Scottish coach is the legendary Jock Stein. In his thirteen year reign as manager of the Hoops, the club won countless amount of domestic silverware, and their first domestic treble. But it was guiding the side to winning the European Cup in 1967, the first British club to do so, that sets him apart. It was an incredible achievement for a Scottish club, and gave Stein an enviable place in History.
But in fiction he has a rival! Jim Murdoch is his name - the man who coached Lewis Macleod to victory at Wimbledon. Jim is more than a coach though, he is the surrogate father who takes over from Calum Macleod after his death. I didn't base Jim on either of the gentlemen above, but his grizzly nature and steely determination gives some elements in common. We first hear of him in the prologue - the man who is coming to assess Lewis's talent. Then finally get to met him in Sydney after the party Lewis attends. The relationship is strained - Lewis's drinking and off court antics the main cause of tension between the two. And there will be other strains as the first book develops, mainly with Jim having to come to terms with Lewis's sexuality, something he has avoided but has to face. I'll return to Jim - not the greatest, but still a great coach. But for the time being, here's a snippet from his first appearance in the book...
As Lewis turned towards his bedroom, he paused and looked back at his coach, seeing him properly for the first time in a while. It was a sobering image - mortality sat there in front of him, flaunting the years which had managed to catch up with Jim Murdoch all too quickly of late. His hair was
thinning at an alarming rate, and what was left had now turned to grey. Too many worries sat on his face, clinging on to the bags under his eyes. That was Father Time for you - there could be no escape. Lewis absorbed it for a while before speaking, attempting to blank out the inevitability of it all. “Thanks, Jim… for sticking by me. I appreciate it, mate. I really do. I know I’ve been a pain in
the arse lately.”
Jim gave a cursory nod of acknowledgement then followed it up with words that might have been best left unsaid, but he’d never been soft when it came to his charge – he refused to allow sentiment to interfere with the job. “That’s what you pay me for, Lewis, now on you go. You need some sleep if you’re going to hit the court in the morning.”
Lewis looked at him again, and wished that Jim could find it in himself to show that he actually cared, that it wasn’t just a job. For the umpteenth time he wondered what Jim Murdoch really thought of him. He knew once, but things had changed so much since the premature success and the spoiler that Lewis had thrown in at the end. There was a distance now between them that
hadn’t existed before that day.
“It’s not been easy for me of late, Jim. And I know it’ll be a bumpy ride ahead. I need you more than ever as a coach… but I need a friend as well… I hope you’ll still be there for me… like you always have been. We both know that I’d have been dead in the water twice over if it hadn’t been for you.
Good night, Jim.”
He waited a moment before taking his leave, but there were no words of reassurance, only another cut.
“Oh Lewis... your management agency called. Apparently the clothing sponsor is none too happy about the image you’re projecting. Any more bad publicity and they’re threatening to terminate the contract. It would appear they have grounds. Good night, Lewis.” Then he turned his attention back to the book without reading another word. ‘Softly softly’ wasn’t Jim’s way –even when it was desperately needed.